I am working on a bible study for this Thursday in which I have 1 hour in which to discuss the book of Ecclesiastes. I do love this book, and I am going to spend the morning reading through Luther's lectures upon the book.
Under the Sun, in this life, everything is vanity. Luther posits this as one of the main points of the book: "It would, therefore, be more correct to call this Book of Ecclesiastes the Politics or the Economics of Solomon. He does not, indeed, legislate or prescribe laws for the governance of the state or the family. This is taken care of in great detail by the natural law or human reason, to which, according to Gen. 1:28, earthly things have been subjected; this has been, is, and must remain the source, the criterion, and the end of all laws, whether political or domestic. But this book can give counsel to a man involved in the state or the household as he deals with difficult problems, and it can instruct and encourage his mind as he bears the troubles of such a position. Problems and troubles are endless here, as is evident both from all the histories in Holy Scripture and from the stories of all the poets." (AE 15:5)
This would be something that it would be good for us all to remember. Yes, there are problems now - and we work to make them better. That is our task and duty. But you know what - even if we fix these by the grace of God, we live in a fallen world. 20 years from now there will be some new stupidity.
Whack-a-mole, Whack-a-mole, all of life is but a giant game of Whack-a-mole. Thus look to the Lord for your deliverance to the life of the world to come!
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